Skip map tab stops

Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route - III

(65.5 km)

Discover some of Friesland’s finest country houses, nobility residences and beautifully landscaped estates. In Friesland, these country estates are known as 'staten' and 'stinzen'.

The Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route takes you on a tour of the cultural and historical highlights of Friesland!

Feel like royalty, as you lunch, dine and stay at some of the most spectacular places in Friesland.

The third section of the Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route takes you through the forested southeast of the province, which came to be known as the ‘other’ Friesland. Members of the House of Orange and the Dutch nobility had their country residences here.

This section of the route starts with a stroll through the streets of Heerenveen. The village that originally grew up around a set of canals dug to transport peat gradually became a city.

From here, you can cycle to the nearby Oranjewoud Park Landscape before heading north to the village of Beetsterzwaag, where you can see monumental trees and buildings. There are beautiful walks through the Oranjewoud Park Landscape and also in Beetsterzwaag. So you may want to set aside a few days for this section of the Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route.

That way you will have time to visit historic sites in a unique part of Friesland!

Sights on this route

Starting point:

De Dreef
8445 RZ Heerenveen

Museum Heerenveen

Museum Heerenveen is a unique dual museum that covers all aspects of the history of Heerenveen, from archaeological finds to 19th-century art, from those who presided as ‘grietman’ or town magistrate to socialist politician Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis.

Oranjewoud Park Landscape

The village of Oranjewoud to the east of the town of Heerenveen is surrounded by Friesland’s very own royal forests.

Grand Canal

The Belvédère Museum in the pretty little village of Oranjewoud offers a spectacular view of the Grand Canal. The building designed by Dutch architect Eerde Schippers is built across the water of the Prinsenwijk canal. The museum was designed in 1703.

Bench

This place tells a unique story of Aunt Marijke and her last stage of life as a regency. Despite her weak health and mild stroke, Aunt Marijke relentlessly continued the work. Aunt Marijke died at the age of 77.

Cemetery Brongerga & Belfry

A terrible disaster took place on July 14, 1711. Johan Willem Friso died in a tragic accident. The son of Maria Louise and Johan Willem Friso also died in 1751. In this cemetery, you can learn more about the tragedy of the royal family.

Restaurant De Heeren van Harinxma *

At Restaurant De Heeren van Harinxma, the dishes are characterized by seasonal inspiration and the use of pure ingredients.

Harinxmastate

The monumental building Harinxmastate is in the Frisian village of Beetsterzwaag. With a characteristic appearance, neo-classical style, and an English landscape garden, this building is one of the most beautiful buildings in Friesland.